2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians Chapter 12 KJV

1Paul sheweth that, though he had been favoured with visions and revelations, 5yet for commendation of his apostleship he chose rather to glory in his infirmities: 11blaming the Corinthians, who had seen in him all the signs of an apostle, for forcing him to such vain boasting. 14He telleth them of his design of visiting them again with the same disinterestedness and fatherly affection as before. 16He justifieth himself from any crafty extortion by his messengers; 20and expresseth his fears, lest, both to his sorrow and theirs, he should find many notorious disorders still not repented of among them.
1 It is not 1expedient for me doubtless to glory. aI will come to 2visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 1I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one 2caught up to 3the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into 1paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not alawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: 1yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For 1though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the 1revelations, there was given to me a 2thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing 1I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, 1My grace is sufficient for thee: for 2my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will 3I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 1Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for 2when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 1I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for 2in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 1Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 1For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me 2this wrong.
14 Behold, 1the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for 2the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And 1I will very gladly spend and be spent for ayou; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being 1crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 1Did I make a gain of you 2by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 1I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 Again, think ye that we 1excuse ourselves unto you? we speak 2before God in Christ: but we 3do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, 1and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21 and lest, when I come again, 1my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
2 Corinthians 12